All Discussions Tagged 'Douglas' - Arizona Freedom Alliance2019-03-21T15:42:20Zhttps://arizonafreedomalliance.ning.com/forum/topic/listForTag?groupUrl=watching-schools&tag=Douglas&feed=yes&xn_auth=noA move forward for education in AZtag:arizonafreedomalliance.ning.com,2018-09-24:6399857:Topic:1623602018-09-24T02:58:26.256ZArizona Freedom Alliancehttps://arizonafreedomalliance.ning.com/profile/10450f4rtl9pq
<p>This is from the editor of Arizona Daily Independent. It's right on target. It's an opinion and is not published on their website so far as we know. See if you agree. [Full disclosure: we were not a fan of Diane Douglas in her first election.]</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong> &lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;</strong></p>
<p class="x_-959643954MsoNormal"><span>I wanted to give everyone, who cares about the kids of Arizona and the state of…</span></p>
<p>This is from the editor of Arizona Daily Independent. It's right on target. It's an opinion and is not published on their website so far as we know. See if you agree. [Full disclosure: we were not a fan of Diane Douglas in her first election.]</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong> &lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;</strong></p>
<p class="x_-959643954MsoNormal"><span>I wanted to give everyone, who cares about the kids of Arizona and the state of our schools, a heads up. Tomorrow morning (9:00 a.m.), Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas is planning to propose to her fellow State Board of Education members the adoption of the Hillsdale Barney Charter School standards.</span></p>
<p class="x_-959643954MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="x_-959643954MsoNormal"><span>Diane’s proposal and decision to take action are important for a number of reasons. The first, and certainly not the least, is that for too long the State Board, under control of Governor Ducey, has dodged a serious discussion about the state of what is really happening in our classrooms. They hide behind the notion of local control, in my humble opinion, not because they fully understand the real world consequences of that idea, but because they don’t want to do the hard work of undoing what doing nothing has created.</span></p>
<p class="x_-959643954MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="x_-959643954MsoNormal"><span>Unfortunately during her tenure, Diane has become the target of both the left and the right. It strikes me that the attacks from the left are more predictable and therefore more manageable. The right, on the other hand, has seemed only willing to complain that progress was not occurring fast enough. At the same time, although well-intentioned, the frantic nature of the demands seemed to scattered the fires of discontent to the point where they simply grew to only feed the critics on the left.</span></p>
<p class="x_-959643954MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="x_-959643954MsoNormal"><span>Although I do not have any faith in Frank Riggs, and I have serious concerns about the ADE under his control, I do hope that conservatives can be patient and find productive ways to further their agenda through his public service.</span></p>
<p class="x_-959643954MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="x_-959643954MsoNormal"><span>Diane’s proposal is also important in so far that it sends an important message to the State Board Of Education.</span> <span>I don’t know that I fully support all of the standards, but what a great place to start! The State Board is trying to turn junk every few years into something of value. Enough. We all know what works, but because it doesn’t make textbook companies rich, it is dismissed. The fact that Diane is willing to challenge the all-powerful SBE and force them to examine their paradigm without fear of future certain reprisal is -I fear - a once-in-a-life-time opportunity for all of us.</span></p>
<p class="x_-959643954MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="x_-959643954MsoNormal"><span>I hope that the one lesson we all take away from the last four years is that no one we elect will be able to make real change unless we change the public’s understanding of what is wrong, how our system works, and just who is responsible for what. Conservatives can’t wring their hands anymore and toss each other under the bus. Conservatives MUST form an organization - or multiple organizations - to educate stakeholders on the duties of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, State Board of Education, and local school boards. Without that fundamental understanding NOTHING can change.</span></p>
<p class="x_-959643954MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="x_-959643954MsoNormal"><span>Diane is about to hand the kids, parents, teachers, and taxpayers of this state an amazing opportunity (that the Governor would have destroyed her for). I hope that anyone, who cares about kids and this amazing country, will applaud her and thank her. Their support and gratitude should also be shared with the SBE members.</span></p>
<p class="x_-959643954MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="x_-959643954MsoNormal"><span>That’s just my two cents.</span></p>
<p class="x_-959643954MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="x_-959643954MsoNormal"><span>L H</span></p>
<p class="x_-959643954MsoNormal"><span> </span></p> Diane Douglas: Arizona's Queen of Common Coretag:arizonafreedomalliance.ning.com,2018-02-24:6399857:Topic:1514982018-02-24T18:18:29.449ZArizona Freedom Alliancehttps://arizonafreedomalliance.ning.com/profile/10450f4rtl9pq
<p>[Editor: Four years ago, when Douglas was the darling of everyone, including the site this was posted on, AFA took the <a href="http://arizonafreedomalliance.ning.com/group/watching-schools/forum/topics/more-common-core-double-talk-by-diane-douglas?commentId=6399857%3AComment%3A147500&amp;groupId=6399857%3AGroup%3A13117" rel="noopener" target="_blank">contrarian position</a> that 1)Douglas was not well qualified to be Superintendent of Public Instruction, and 2) She would not have the…</p>
<p>[Editor: Four years ago, when Douglas was the darling of everyone, including the site this was posted on, AFA took the <a href="http://arizonafreedomalliance.ning.com/group/watching-schools/forum/topics/more-common-core-double-talk-by-diane-douglas?commentId=6399857%3AComment%3A147500&amp;groupId=6399857%3AGroup%3A13117" target="_blank" rel="noopener">contrarian position</a> that 1)Douglas was not well qualified to be Superintendent of Public Instruction, and 2) She would not have the authority to end Common Core. Unfortunately, there was no competition in that election because John Huppenthal, incumbent, was sold out for Common Core. This was truly an election where voters had to decide which "evil" to vote for.]</p>
<p><span>by Jennifer Reynolds, Creator of <a href="http://www.reynoldsnet.org/commoncore/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Arizonans Against Common Core</a> and member of <a href="https://twitter.com/MommyLobbyAZ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mommy Lobby AZ</a></span></p>
<p><span>The second rebrand of Common Core is no more than Lipstick on a Pig. Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas continues to travel around the state in 2018 on the campaign trail telling crowds that she <a href="http://www.azed.gov/blog/2016/12/21/common-core-repeal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">“Stopped Common Core” as part of her 2014 campaign promise</a>. This is far from the truth! Common Core was Rebranded a second time on December 19, 2016 when the 2016 Arizona English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics Standards were adopted by the <a href="https://azsbe.az.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">State Board of Education (SBE)</a> with an 8-1 vote. See <a href="https://arizonadailyindependent.com/2016/12/20/arizona-state-board-of-education-approves-rebrand-of-common-core-standards/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Arizona State Board Of Education Approves Rebrand Of Common Core Standards</a> and <a href="https://arizonadailyindependent.com/2016/12/23/state-board-of-education-ignores-governor-parents-and-own-policy-rubber-stamps-common-core-for-another-7-years/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">State Board Of Education Ignores Governor, Parents And Own Policy</a>. </span></p>
<p><span><a href="https://azsbe.az.gov/board-committees-staff" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SBE member Jared Taylor</a> was the only vote opposing the adoption of these standards and he stated, “<em>The bottom line is that I am very disappointed that we kicked the parents to the curb and ignored the will of the voters when they elected Diane Douglas. Yet she led the way today; we just renewed Common Core</em>.”</span></p>
<p><strong><span>Comments from Mommy Lobby, Arizonans Against Common Core, Opt Out AZ</span><br/> <span>IGNORED by Supt Douglas, ADE, SBE Exec Director, Gov. Ducey’s Educ. Policy Director</span></strong></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/MommyLobbyAZ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mommy Lobby AZ (ML)</a><span>,</span> <a href="http://www.reynoldsnet.org/commoncore/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Arizonans Against Common Core (AACC)</a><span>, and</span> <a href="https://optoutaz.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Opt Out AZ </a><span>reviewed the 1st and 2nd drafts of the 2016 Arizona ELA and Mathematics standards and submitted our comments directly to Superintendent Diane Douglas, as well as to the</span> <a href="http://www.azed.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Arizona Department of Education (ADE)</a></p>
<p><span>Standards Staff,</span> <a href="https://azednews.com/arizona-department-of-education-announces-three-new-associate-superintendents/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Carol Lippert</a> <span>and</span> <a href="http://www.azed.gov/standards-practices/presidential-awards-for-excellence-in-mathematics-and-science-teaching/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Suzi Mast</a><span>; the former State Board of Education (SBE) Executive Director, </span> <a href="http://kjzz.org/content/215010/arizona-board-education-confirms-new-executive-director" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Karol Schmidt</a><span>; and Governor Ducey’s Education Policy Director, </span> <a href="https://azgovernor.gov/governor/news/2016/09/governor-announces-senior-staff-changes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dawn Wallace</a> <span>numerous times in 2016.</span><br/> <br/> <strong><span>Comments Compiled by Parents and Teachers</span><br/> <span>IGNORED by Arizona Legislators, SLAPPED DOWN by Supt. Douglas</span></strong></p>
<p><span><a href="http://www.gilbertwatch.com/index.cfm/blog/diane-douglas-arizona-s-queen-of-common-core/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Continue reading...</a></span></p> More Common Core Double-talk by Diane Douglastag:arizonafreedomalliance.ning.com,2017-12-29:6399857:Topic:1475822017-12-29T16:39:36.413ZArizona Freedom Alliancehttps://arizonafreedomalliance.ning.com/profile/10450f4rtl9pq
<p>[Editor: Just a note from the past. When Ms. Douglas ran for SPI the first time, she told our head Admin that she could not change Common Core. Killing Common Core was her entire campaign. When our Admin asked her why she was running on a promise she already said she couldn't keep, she said, "I changed my mind." One does not change the facts by changing their minds about the facts. This is the reason AFA never supported the Douglas campaign. Thank you to Gilbert Watch for sending this…</p>
<p>[Editor: Just a note from the past. When Ms. Douglas ran for SPI the first time, she told our head Admin that she could not change Common Core. Killing Common Core was her entire campaign. When our Admin asked her why she was running on a promise she already said she couldn't keep, she said, "I changed my mind." One does not change the facts by changing their minds about the facts. This is the reason AFA never supported the Douglas campaign. Thank you to Gilbert Watch for sending this article so we could post it for your information.]</p>
<p><span>When does “repeal and replace” not mean “repeal and replace”? When Supt. Of Public Instruction Diane Douglas says it. </span></p>
<p><span>Incumbent Douglas has been cranking out media releases, including taking a recent victory lap on the anniversary of the State Board of Education’s adoption of “Common Core Rebrand #2.” Her false “Common Core has been repealed and replaced” narrative has recently appeared in <a href="http://archives.mcrcbriefs.org/2017_12_20_archive.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Frosty Taylor’s 12/20/2017 Briefs</a>. It also appeared in the 12/19/2017 issue of the <a href="http://yellowsheetreport.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yellow Sheet</a>. </span></p>
<p><span>For the record, the Common Core Standards haven’t been repealed or replaced. At most, they’ve been “tweaked.” </span></p>
<p><span>Don’t be fooled by Douglas’s red herring argument when she states:</span></p>
<p><em><span>“More than 200 teachers who donated thousands of hours in working groups, as well as countless dedicated parents, 10,000 public comments, several nationally recognized technical experts, prominent anti-Common Core authorities and the Arizona Department of Education’s (ADE’s) K-12 Standards team all helped shape the new Arizona standards in practice. There is currently a feature on ADE’s website that outlines the Top 5 ways Arizona’s new standards differ from Common Core.” </span></em></p>
<p><span>The truth is, she ignored virtually every teacher, member of the public, nationally recognized technical expert, and prominent anti-Common Core authority that offered specific recommendations that would repeal and replace the Common Core Standards. </span></p>
<p><span>Instead, hundreds of recommendations from <a href="https://www.achieve.org/history-achieve" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Achieve, Inc.</a>, appear throughout the “redline” versions of the ELA (English and Language Arts) and Math standards, and were incorporated in the “final, approved 2nd draft.” For those not acquainted with Achieve, back in 2009, Achieve partnered with the National Governors Association and Council of Chief State School Officers on the Common Core Initiative, and a number of Achieve staff and consultants served on the writing and review teams.” </span><span> (See <a href="https://k12standards.az.gov/sites/default/files/media/2016%20ELA%20Red-line%20Standards.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ELA Redline Standards</a>, <a href="https://k12standards.az.gov/sites/default/files/media/2016%20Math%20K-5%20Red-line%20Standards_11-30-16.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Math K-5 Redline Standards</a>, <a href="https://k12standards.az.gov/sites/default/files/media/2016%20Math%206%208%20and%20HS%20Red%20line%20Standards_11-30-2016.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Math 6-8 and High School Redline Standards</a>, <a href="https://k12standards.az.gov/sites/default/files/media/ELA%202nd%20DRAFT%20STANDARDS-%20Clean%20Copy.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ELA 2nd Draft Standards</a>, and <a href="https://k12standards.az.gov/sites/default/files/media/Math%202nd%20DRAFT%20STANDARDS-%20Clean%20Copy_1.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Math 2nd Draft Standards</a>) </span><span>See below for 2 examples of “changes” to the Common Core Standards.</span></p>
<p><span>Incumbent Douglas’s deceptive narrative isn’t anything new. She’s been doing this for over a year. </span></p>
<p><span>Continue reading on <a href="http://www.gilbertwatch.com/index.cfm/blog/more-common-core-double-talk-by-diane-douglas/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gilbert Watch</a></span></p>
<p>[NOTE: Diane Douglas is running for re-election as Superintendent of Public Instruction.]</p>
<p></p> High Stakes Testing - Expensive, Wasteful, Ineffective Child Abusetag:arizonafreedomalliance.ning.com,2017-12-16:6399857:Topic:1464862017-12-16T17:02:41.843ZArizona Freedom Alliancehttps://arizonafreedomalliance.ning.com/profile/10450f4rtl9pq
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[Editor: Perhaps you have noticed how little our college students are learning. Of course you have. We see it on the nightly news routinely. This is the reason!]…</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[Editor: Perhaps you have noticed how little our college students are learning. Of course you have. We see it on the nightly news routinely. This is the reason!]</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 1.2em; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; line-height: 1.25; color: #000000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-xg-p: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px none; outline: 0px none currentcolor; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">Hopefully, you read the letter that <a href="http://www.gilbertwatch.com/index.cfm/blog/barry-jackson-on-teaching-to-the-test/" target="_blank" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px none; outline: 0px none currentcolor; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; color: #be0a2f;" rel="noopener">educational tutor Barry Jackson sent to Betsy DeVos</a>. In it you can see the damage that is being done to our children by <a href="http://www.gilbertwatch.com/index.cfm/blog/no-more-common-core-part-1-of-9/" target="_blank" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px none; outline: 0px none currentcolor; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; color: #be0a2f;" rel="noopener">the Arizona State Board of Education when they, along with then Gov. Jan Brewer and Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne, in 2010, brought the Common Core Machine to Arizona.</a> They did this in hopes of "winning" millions of dollars from our federal government via <a href="https://blog.ed.gov/2009/07/president-obama-secretary-duncan-announce-race-to-the-top/" target="_blank" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px none; outline: 0px none currentcolor; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; color: #be0a2f;" rel="noopener">Race to the Top</a>. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 1.2em; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; line-height: 1.25; color: #000000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-xg-p: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px none; outline: 0px none currentcolor; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">Since that time, <a href="https://arizonadailyindependent.com/2016/12/20/arizona-state-board-of-education-approves-rebrand-of-common-core-standards/" target="_blank" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px none; outline: 0px none currentcolor; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; color: #be0a2f;" rel="noopener">Common Core has been rebranded, twice</a>. Further, the <a href="http://www.gilbertwatch.com/index.cfm/blog/state-board-of-education-ignores-governor-parents-and-own-policy-rubber-stamps-common-core-for-another-7-years/" target="_blank" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px none; outline: 0px none currentcolor; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; color: #be0a2f;" rel="noopener">pro-Common Core State Board has ensured that the damage continues</a>. These people consider themselves "experts," a term that is being met with cynicism by a growing number of critically thinking people. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em 40px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 1.2em; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; line-height: 1.25; color: #000000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-xg-p: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px none; outline: 0px none currentcolor; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">"Board member Jared Taylor, who has been consistent in his opposition to Common Core, was the lone “no” vote.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em 40px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 1.2em; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; line-height: 1.25; color: #000000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-xg-p: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px none; outline: 0px none currentcolor; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">“The bottom line is that I am very disappointed that we kicked the parents to the curb and ignored the will of the voters when they elected Diane Douglas. Yet she led the way today; we just renewed Common Core,” stated Taylor. <a href="https://arizonadailyindependent.com/2016/12/20/arizona-state-board-of-education-approves-rebrand-of-common-core-standards/" target="_blank" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px none; outline: 0px none currentcolor; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; color: #be0a2f;" rel="noopener">Arizona State Board Of Education Approves Rebrand Of Common Core Standards</a></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 1.2em; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; line-height: 1.25; color: #000000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-xg-p: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px none; outline: 0px none currentcolor; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">If you have any doubts about the negative effects of High Stakes Testing, there are many others who agree with Barry Jackson. They also say it is counter-productive, expensive, wasteful, and it is also child abuse. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 1.2em; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; line-height: 1.25; color: #000000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-xg-p: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px none; outline: 0px none currentcolor; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">As you read some of the comments below from the real experts, both local and national,--there are thousands more that I have not quoted--please recall that the <a href="https://arizonadailyindependent.com/2017/04/28/new-arizona-a-f-school-accountability-plan-makes-azmerit-high-stakes/" target="_blank" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px none; outline: 0px none currentcolor; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; color: #be0a2f;" rel="noopener">Arizona State Board of Education voted in April 2017, to make 90% of a school's A-F grade dependent on how well their students scored on the High Stakes test, AZMerit</a>. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 1.2em; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; line-height: 1.25; color: #000000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-xg-p: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px none; outline: 0px none currentcolor; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">Jared Taylor stated in a Twitter comment: "AZMerit is expensive and doesn’t provide meaningful feedback to schools. Thousands of duplicate tax money is spent on real tests for schools. Very wasteful."</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 1.2em; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; line-height: 1.25; color: #000000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-xg-p: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px none; outline: 0px none currentcolor; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">Continue reading on <a href="http://www.gilbertwatch.com/index.cfm/blog/high-stakes-testing-expensive-wasteful-ineffective-child-abuse/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gilbert Watch</a></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 1.2em; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; line-height: 1.25; color: #000000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-xg-p: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[Folks, we have an opportunity to elect a new Superintendent of Public Instruction in November 2018. Do your homework, vote carefully. Remember, it's not what they promise to do, it's about what they actually do. Our children depend on us to get it right!]</span></p> How Much of the Common Core Standards Really Changed?tag:arizonafreedomalliance.ning.com,2017-02-09:6399857:Topic:1196102017-02-09T15:06:59.477ZArizona Freedom Alliancehttps://arizonafreedomalliance.ning.com/profile/10450f4rtl9pq
<p>[Editor: We just hate people who said "I told you so." And now we are those people because throughout the primary election, we did tell you that Douglas was not what she appeared. To be sure, Huppenthal was the wrong person, too. As usual, two bad choices. After that, there was no choice. Douglas is slightly better but well under qualified to be Superintendent. The saving grace is the people link Mommy Lobby and Gilbert Watch that keeps this in the public eye.]</p>
<p><span>Wouldn't you…</span></p>
<p>[Editor: We just hate people who said "I told you so." And now we are those people because throughout the primary election, we did tell you that Douglas was not what she appeared. To be sure, Huppenthal was the wrong person, too. As usual, two bad choices. After that, there was no choice. Douglas is slightly better but well under qualified to be Superintendent. The saving grace is the people link Mommy Lobby and Gilbert Watch that keeps this in the public eye.]</p>
<p><span>Wouldn't you think that, by now, most Arizonans know that Superintendent Diane Douglas is lying when she repeatedly tells people that Arizona's "new standards are 'No way' Common Core-like"!! I guess she thinks that, if she repeats the lie often enough, people will believe it. </span></p>
<p><span>Gilbert Watch has published two side-by-side comparisons, which were put together by a mother with the Mommy Lobby: 1) The old <a href="http://optoutaz.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Common-Core-Math-Comparison-Final-Copy.pdf" target="_blank">Common Core Math compared to Arizona's New Math Standards</a>, and 2) The old <a href="http://www.gilbertwatch.com/tasks/sites/gilbertwatch/assets/File/Common%20Core%20ELA%20Comparison%20PDF_2017.pdf" target="_blank">Common Core English/Language Arts standards compared to Arizona's New English/Language Arts standards</a>. </span></p>
<p><span>Recently, a mother with the Mommy Lobby produced a simple, two-sided flyer that you can distribute to your friends, family, legislators, parents, children, by-standers, curiosity seekers, etc: <a href="http://www.gilbertwatch.com/tasks/sites/gilbertwatch/assets/File/How_Much_Has_CCS_Really_Changed.pdf" target="_blank">"How Much of the Common Core Standards Really Changed?"</a></span></p>
<p><span>For anyone who wants to know everything there is to know about Common Core, so you, too, can be sick to death of it, see below. As for me, I'm researching homeschooling.</span></p>
<p><span>Go to <a href="http://www.gilbertwatch.com/index.cfm/blog/how-much-of-the-common-core-standards-really-changed/" target="'_blank&quot;">Gilbert Watch</a> for a long list of remedies to consider.</span></p> Arizona Board of Education president abruptly resigns, cites feud with Diane Douglastag:arizonafreedomalliance.ning.com,2016-08-18:6399857:Topic:1042242016-08-18T19:15:56.218ZArizona Freedom Alliancehttps://arizonafreedomalliance.ning.com/profile/10450f4rtl9pq
<p><span style="font-size: 1.5em;">Greg Miller, president of the board, frequently clashed with the state superintendent of public instruction; replacement expected soon</span></p>
<div class="story-asset story-metadata-asset" id="module-position-PRmRj0FREHo"><div class="article-metadata-wrap"><span style="font-size: 1.17em;">STORY HIGHLIGHTS</span><br></br><ul class="hlt">
<li class="hlt-item">Gov. Doug Ducey asked Miller to resign to get 'fresh leadership'</li>
<li class="hlt-item">Douglas…</li>
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<p><span style="font-size: 1.5em;">Greg Miller, president of the board, frequently clashed with the state superintendent of public instruction; replacement expected soon</span></p>
<div id="module-position-PRmRj0FREHo" class="story-asset story-metadata-asset"><div class="article-metadata-wrap"><span style="font-size: 1.17em;">STORY HIGHLIGHTS</span><br/><ul class="hlt">
<li class="hlt-item">Gov. Doug Ducey asked Miller to resign to get 'fresh leadership'</li>
<li class="hlt-item">Douglas spokesman says superintendent continues to work collaboratively with state board</li>
<li class="hlt-item">Resignation comes as state trying to adopt letter-grade rating system for schools</li>
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<p>(Photo: Nick Oza/The Republic) Arizona Board of Education President Greg Miller's abrupt resignation Wednesday ended a two-year <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1274248574?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1274248574?profile=original" width="283" class="align-left" height="213"/></a>feud with state schools Superintendent Diane Douglas marked by lawsuits and heated tensions in public meetings.</p>
<p>Miller leaves as the state nears the homestretch of years-long efforts to adopt new policies affecting what Arizona students have to learn and how schools will be held accountable for that.</p>
<p>Gov. Doug Ducey asked Miller to resign this week “in order to provide fresh leadership,” Daniel Scarpinato, Ducey’s spokesman, said in an email Wednesday.</p>
<p>Miller agreed, and later told <em>The Arizona Republic </em>he “didn’t have the time and energy” to see through the rest of his term, which would have ended in January.</p>
<p>The feud between Douglas and Miller began when they first met in 2014 — when she was still campaigning for the superintendent's office.</p>
<p>Since then, the two have clashed often over standards, testing, the overall vision for Arizona education — and authority.</p>
<p>With exception to the state superintendent of public instruction's seat, all the members of the state Board of Education are appointed by Arizona's governor.</p>
<p>There are two vacant seats on the 11-person board, including Miller's. Scarpinato said Ducey will make new appointments likely “this week or next."</p>
<p>In a Wednesday interview with <em>The Republic, </em>Miller said he felt “relief because the superintendent has been unwilling to cooperate with the board and my role as president has constantly put us in conflict.”</p>
<p>“I wish I would’ve accomplished more,” Miller added, “but unfortunately that hasn’t been the case because I spent an awful lot of time defending the state board and its constitutional role.”</p>
<p>Read more on <a href="http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona-education/2016/08/17/arizona-board-education-president-resigns-greg-miller-diane-douglas/88909352/" target="_blank">azcentral.com</a></p>
<p></p> Diane Douglas education plan: Fewer tests, no Common Coretag:arizonafreedomalliance.ning.com,2015-10-04:6399857:Topic:730392015-10-04T19:15:40.524ZArizona Freedom Alliancehttps://arizonafreedomalliance.ning.com/profile/10450f4rtl9pq
<p>[Editor: We believe this article by the Republic is unnecessarily harsh on Douglas. They paint her in a negative light on some issues. We don't expect Douglas or any other public servant to be perfect - and none of them are. However, it appears she is trying to move forward against a wall of block and tacklers. Some have called her out for spending a measly $410 on t-shirts advertising her AZ Kids Can't Afford to Wait tour. Nonsense. Governmental departments waste more than that before…</p>
<p>[Editor: We believe this article by the Republic is unnecessarily harsh on Douglas. They paint her in a negative light on some issues. We don't expect Douglas or any other public servant to be perfect - and none of them are. However, it appears she is trying to move forward against a wall of block and tacklers. Some have called her out for spending a measly $410 on t-shirts advertising her AZ Kids Can't Afford to Wait tour. Nonsense. Governmental departments waste more than that before 9:00am daily!]</p>
<p>Arizona students would take fewer annual standardized tests and the state's Common Core standards would be thrown out under a plan introduced Thursday by Arizona's schools chief.</p>
<p>Superintendent of Public Instruction <a href="http://archive.azcentral.com/persistent/icimages/news/AZ-Kids-Cant-Afford-to-Wait-compressed.pdf">Diane Douglas' 156-page report </a>touches on the battle over funding raging among state leaders, reiterating her demand that Gov. Doug Ducey and the Legislature immediately invest $400 million in new money for teacher salaries and for smaller classroom sizes.</p>
<p>The plan also runs the gamut on issues, from developing a more culturally sensitive curriculum and improving school opportunities in rural areas to increasing recess time and giving the state control over federal land.</p>
<p>But much of Douglas' plan calls for changes to state education standards and testing -- key campaign issues that played a significant role in her winning office.</p>
<p>Douglas presented her plan flanked by children wearing school-bus-yellow shirts that read, "AZ Kids Can't Afford to Wait!"</p>
<p>"Anyone who followed my campaign knows one thing about me for sure -- I oppose Common Core with all my fiber," Douglas wrote. "I challenge the State Board of Education to vote at their very next meeting to reverse their previous actions and sever the ties between Arizona and Common Core. ... We in Arizona are smart enough and engaged enough to develop standards that are our own and are uniquely designed for our specific state needs and population challenges."</p>
<p>Read more about her plans for testing and teaching on <a href="http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/arizona/politics/education/2015/10/01/arizona-superintendent-diane-douglas-education-reform/73123478/" target="_blank">azcentral.com</a></p> Top Board of Education executive Christine Thompson leaving amid fight with Diane Douglastag:arizonafreedomalliance.ning.com,2015-09-12:6399857:Topic:713512015-09-12T13:26:13.709ZArizona Freedom Alliancehttps://arizonafreedomalliance.ning.com/profile/10450f4rtl9pq
<div class="js-pagination"><div class="story__content__body p402_premium story__content__body"><p>The executive director of the Arizona Board of Education is resigning after months of conflict between the board and state schools chief Diane Douglas.</p>
<p>Christine Thompson's departure is "absolutely" prompted by the months of conflict with Douglas, board president Greg Miller said Friday.</p>
<p>"I don't think there any specific action that occurred. I just think she's reached that point…</p>
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<div class="js-pagination"><div class="story__content__body p402_premium story__content__body"><p>The executive director of the Arizona Board of Education is resigning after months of conflict between the board and state schools chief Diane Douglas.</p>
<p>Christine Thompson's departure is "absolutely" prompted by the months of conflict with Douglas, board president Greg Miller said Friday.</p>
<p>"I don't think there any specific action that occurred. I just think she's reached that point where it's time to move on," Miller added.</p>
<p>Thompson and her deputy were fired by Douglas in February in a move Gov. Doug Ducey blocked.</p>
<p>Douglas then failed in an effort to get a judge to clarify her power over the board's executives and plans to appeal.</p>
<p>Douglas said she intended to fire Thompson if she prevailed. The Board of Education said it has hiring and firing power over its staff.</p>
<p>In her resignation letter, Thompson said her last day of work will be Nov. 6.</p>
<p>"I am committed to supporting the board and its staff during this transition in order to further the board's ongoing efforts to set policies that foster excellence in public education," Thompson added.</p>
<p>The Board of Education meets Tuesday afternoon to begin the process of finding Thompson's replacement.</p>
<p>Go to <a href="http://www.abc15.com/news/region-phoenix-metro/central-phoenix/top-board-of-education-executive-christine-thompson-leaving-amid-fight-with-diane-douglas" target="_blank">ABC15 News to see more</a></p>
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</div> Douglas appeals judge's decision over who runs board of education stafftag:arizonafreedomalliance.ning.com,2015-08-01:6399857:Topic:685462015-08-01T22:37:16.652ZArizona Freedom Alliancehttps://arizonafreedomalliance.ning.com/profile/10450f4rtl9pq
<p>A power dispute between Arizona schools chief Diane Douglas and the Arizona State Board of Education will continue in court.</p>
<p>Douglas, the superintendent of Public Instruction, has appealed a Maricopa County Superior Court ruling that the schools chief does not have the power to hire and fire Arizona State Board of Education staff.</p>
<p>“The court got it wrong,” said Douglas’ attorney Steven Tully, after requesting a special action by the Arizona Court of Appeals Friday afternoon.…</p>
<p>A power dispute between Arizona schools chief Diane Douglas and the Arizona State Board of Education will continue in court.</p>
<p>Douglas, the superintendent of Public Instruction, has appealed a Maricopa County Superior Court ruling that the schools chief does not have the power to hire and fire Arizona State Board of Education staff.</p>
<p>“The court got it wrong,” said Douglas’ attorney Steven Tully, after requesting a special action by the Arizona Court of Appeals Friday afternoon. “The superintendent has the right to hire and fire staff.”</p>
<p>Mary O’Grady, attorney for the board, called Douglas’ move “disappointing, but not surprising.”</p>
<p>“It would be nice to have this chapter closed,” she said.</p>
<p>“Oh no,” said education board President Greg Miller, when told about the appeal.</p>
<p>“No, the court did not get it wrong. It substantiated the view of the board that the board sets policy, hires staff and the superintendent carries out the policy set by the board.”</p>
<p><a href="http://archive.azcentral.com/persistent/icimages/news/douglas-petition-school-board.pdf" target="'_blank&quot;"><span>READ THE APPEAL</span></a></p>
<p>Douglas sued the board in May after trying unsuccessfully to fire two board staff members. She said in the suit that Arizona law gives her power over the board, which she views as an extension of the Arizona Department of Education.</p>
<p>Department of Education records show that since March, Tully has billed $28,000 for his services. That does not count the amount being spent on the appeal.</p>
<p>Read more on <a href="http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/2015/07/31/douglas-appeals-judges-decision-over-who-runs-board-education-staff/30967451/" target="_blank">azcentral.com</a></p> School-choice 'shadow faction' embraces its nametag:arizonafreedomalliance.ning.com,2015-02-15:6399857:Topic:586832015-02-15T19:20:49.836ZArizona Freedom Alliancehttps://arizonafreedomalliance.ning.com/profile/10450f4rtl9pq
<p>From <a href="http://www.azcentral.com/story/politicalinsider/2015/02/14/political-insider/23361793/" target="_blank">azcentral.com</a>:</p>
<p><span><i>More hashtags trending ..</i>. </span>State Superintendent<span>Diane Douglas</span> might have a future in the branding game if her Ed Department gig doesn't work out.</p>
<p>She found a label that stuck last week while critiquing Gov. <span>Doug Ducey</span>'s education platform: She called out charter-school operators and former state…</p>
<p>From <a href="http://www.azcentral.com/story/politicalinsider/2015/02/14/political-insider/23361793/" target="_blank">azcentral.com</a>:</p>
<p><span><i>More hashtags trending ..</i>. </span>State Superintendent<span>Diane Douglas</span> might have a future in the branding game if her Ed Department gig doesn't work out.</p>
<p>She found a label that stuck last week while critiquing Gov. <span>Doug Ducey</span>'s education platform: She called out charter-school operators and former state school superintendents, labeling them a "shadow faction" that supports Common Core and moving money from traditional schools to charters.</p>
<p><span>Lisa Graham Keegan</span>, a former school superintendent and apparently the shadow leader, took the name and ran with it. She sat up late ordering coffee mugs emblazoned with #shadowfaction. For those who support such efforts but aren't shadow-factionistas per se, she's got #shadowfactionfan mugs.</p>
<p>No doubt, one of the mugs will be headed to our hashtag-loving governor.</p>
<p>Keegan questions the moniker, saying, she's very much in the stark light of day in her support for school choice.</p>
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<h3 class="asset-headline">Douglas retreats, then charges, in Ducey duel</h3>
<a href="http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/arizona/politics/2015/02/13/diane-douglas-speech-education-board-firings-ducey/23358161/" target="_blank">azcentral.com</a> <br />
<p>State schools Superintendent Diane Douglas appeared to step back from her showdown with Gov. Doug Ducey on Friday, striking a conciliatory tone at a morning news conference where she said she hoped the two could work together to clarify in statute the bounds of her authority.</p>
<p>But Douglas maintained she had acted lawfully when she fired two State Board of Education staffers this week, a move Ducey had condemned as illegal. And later Friday, a combative Douglas voted at an afternoon Board of Education meeting to prevent the employees from returning to their state offices.</p>
<p>Douglas believes state law grants her the right to hire and fire Board of Education staff. Ducey holds that the board, not the superintendent, has that authority, and his office has cited a 1985 attorney-general opinion to support its view.</p>
<p>The battle between Douglas and Ducey, newly elected Republicans, quickly escalated into a public spectacle Thursday, after the governor said Douglas had acted illegally Wednesday in firing the board's executive director, Christine Thompson, and its assistant executive director, Sabrina Vazquez.</p>
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